Casteism in the Sikhs:-

The Ground level Reality?

Rajdevinder Singh Kallah

(S. Rajdevinder Singh Kallah is a Post Graduate from Punjabi University Patiala and presently works in Takht Sachkhand Sahib, Nanded. In his earlier assignment, he worked as APS to S. Charanjit Singh Atwal, former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha. The article written by him under the title ‘Casteism in Sikhs: the Ground Level Reality’ in SACHKHAND PATRA (September-2012 Issue) – a publication of Takht Sachkhand Sahib, Nanded, is first hand narration of deep rooted ethos on practice of untouchability amongst the followers of Sikhism.)

            In the last month, eminent celebrity Mr. Amir Khan's famous T.V. show "Satyamev Jayte" on the Star Plus T.V. Channel showed the demeaning and inhuman practice of untouchability in the Indian society and notorious muteness and inaction on the part of civil society and the Center and State governments to act upon to eradicate this evils. The said show remained the most popular show among the all walks of our society. The reason behind its popularity was that it touched themes which are prevailing in society and most of the people living in society could relate to them. The issue of cheap life saving drugs and loot by big drug manufacturing companies, the problem of female foeticide in the country, tale of old and feeble persons, conditions of homeless widows, long pending cases in the various courts against guilty doctors, clinics and other concerned, were heart rending narrations. We congratulate Mr. Amir Khan for raising such critical matters boldly.

 
           In one of its episodes, Mr. Amir Khan raised the serious problem of Casteism and its effects on the common man and its practice in various religions and amongst the followers of such religions. In the said episode, the practice of untouchability was narrated by showing a village Gurdwara of Punjab, it had shown that the entry of ‘Dalits’ (so called lower castes and erstwhile untouchables) and ‘Jatts’ (so called Higher caste) was through two different doors.

             Spiritually speaking, everyone knows, there is no place of Casteism in Sikhism, but on the ground level and in social interactions, in the villages and cities, majority of 'Sikhs’ do believe in this 'Casteism' and also determinately follows this tradition. This is the truth and we will have to accept this willy-nilly.

             I have heard from my elders that before the independence even the Dalits were not allowed to get water from the common well of the village. There is another truth that is well known to all even today there are many Hindu Temples in India, where the entry of the so called "Dalits" is absolutely banned. But we are living in the 21^st century and what is happening around us is really a matter of great concern?

            Here, I would like to share an incident with the readers that happened with us, during the last Parliament Election of 2009. We were campaigning in the villages of Raikot (Distt. Ludhiana, Punjab) Assembly Constituency with S. Charanjit Singh Atwal (now the Hon'ble Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha) along with S. Ranjit Singh Talwandi Ex. M.L.A. and other prominent leaders. In one of the villages, when we were meeting various groups of people, a group of so-called 'Dalit Sikhs' stopped our vehicles and complained to the leaders that the village's high Caste Sikhs are not allowing them to take the "Bir of Maharaj" (Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji) for marriages of their kin and sibling. The leaders promised them his intervention in solving the problem faced by them but when the leaders interacted with 'so called high class' people's in that village and broached this issue with them, they flatly and openly declared that if they (the leaders) are with the 'Dalits' and want to discuss their problem, they will have to go empty hands, and not a single vote will be casted in their favour. When asked, why they were doing so, they (Upper Castes) said that the Dalit Sikhs are going to the 'some Dera Wala Baba' to whom the villagers have boycotted.

             The leaders tried their best for conciliation between these two groups of people, but failed to resolve the matter. Then, what happen? Later on, we came to know that the 'Dalits Sikhs' of that village performed the marriages ceremony of their children, while keeping a picture of that Baba in the in the centre.

             The story does not end here. Even in some villages, there are more than two "Shamshan Ghats" (Cremation Ground) one for the so called ‘Dalit's’ and other for the ‘Upper Castes’.

             Not in the villages of Punjab, but this problem has spread in the cities also and even in the foreign countries. There are Gurdwaras in the name of different Castes as Ramgadia's Gurdwara, Ramdasia's, Mazbbi's Sikhs, Jattan Da Gurdwara etc.

             This malice has really shaken the very fundamental principles on which ‘Sikhism’ was found. The principle of equality and ideals of establishing egalitarian society are perhaps no more prime concern of social and spiritual preachers. Government money is being used to create wedge amongst people of various groups. Now we have came to know that our Supreme religious authority Sri Akal Takhat Sahib has issued press statement that before construction of a new Gurdwara, the concerned parties would have to get permission from Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. But the moot question is that why Caste based Gurdwaras are coming up in every village and city? Why the missionary and revolutionary ideology of Sikhism based on egalitarianism is losing its sheen to encompass all and build a vibrant society? No dictates from any temporal authority without positive and concrete action amongst people living in society could mitigate this problem.  It must not be forgotten that so called Dalit Sikhs have given supreme sacrifices for propagation and spread of Sikhism far and wide. 

             Practicing Casteism and untouchability while being Sikh may serve the purpose of scant few but would definitely tarnish the laudable and high ideals of Sikhism contained in the message of Gurus and Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. Those high ideals are required to be imbibed by Sikh Sangat to mitigate this evil.

                      

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